native toads to florida for pets only please. iam looking to get native toads as pets. i love toads! (United States)

HI, MY NAME IS REANNA BURGESS. I LIVE IN LAKELAND, FLORIDA 33805. iam looking for toads for pets. there are NO TOADS where i live. i used to see alot of toads, but now i do not see any. i just love toads. i would like to get some. if anyone knows where i can get them at in florida, please email me back and let me know. thank you very much, reanna burgess. email address is neddybear09@gmail.com. thanks again, reanna.

Re: native toads to florida for pets only please. iam looking to get native toads as pets. i love toads! (United States)

Hello Reanna,

I am thinking that stocking your yard with Native Florida amphipians is not a good idea. First, by purchasing such animals you are encouraging the pet trade in wild species, which should not be supported under any circumstances. Second, you don't know where those animals came from; they might represent subspecies different from those native to your area and releasing them into the wild would contaminate the gene pool of any remaining native animals. Third, you can't be sure they don't carry any diseases that could be spread to wild animals. And fourth, there is probably a law against trading in Native Florida animals like that. Perhaps you should contact the folks here and ask what they suggest -- http://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/toads.shtml